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Rehabilitation / Biological control with birds of prey

►Injured birds

It's springtime & lots of baby birds are leaving their nests. But, some birds don't make it on their first flight...rather they end up on the ground, injured and helpless.

If you find one of these injured birds, you need to know what to do - and take action fast. If you find an injured bird, carefully put it in a cardboard box/shoebox/ with a lid or a towel over the top, and place in a cool, safe place. Birds go into shock very easily when injured, and often die from the shock. Do not try to force feed or give water to the bird. You should NOT try to rehabilitate any animal on your own, as you may cause further damage or imprint upon the raptor. You should contact the wildlife rehabilitator in your area for assistance as quickly as possible and protect the raptor from cats, dogs, and other animals until assistance has arrived or if you have to transport it to a rehabilitator.

How to Handle a Raptor to Transport to a Rehabilitator:

1. Put the towel over the bird, the darkness will calm the bird more. 2. Wearing your gloves and safety glasses to protect you from their sharp beak and talons, gently take hold of the raptor by keeping the birds wings close to its body (unless the raptor has clearly suffered an injury to the wing), and keeping your hands out of reach of the raptors talons. 3. Place the raptor inside the kennel or box. Ensure that the box has plenty of air holes for ventilation. It is best to have a box that is slightly bigger than the raptor, if it is too small the raptor can do serious damage to its feathers and wings and if it is too large it is possible for the raptor to hurt itself by thrashing around 4. Keep the box in a dark safe place away from animals and children until it is time for it to be transported.